BS EN 12464-1:2011

What is this standard about?

BS EN 12464 specifies lighting requirements for people in indoor work places, to meet the needs for visual comfort and performance of people having normal ophthalmic (visual) capacity. All usual visual tasks are considered, including Display Screen Equipment (DSE).

Who is this standard for?

• Lighting designers
• Lighting specifiers
• Architects/engineers
• Interior designers
• Electricians

Why should you use this standard?

This revised standard gives recommendations to help those designing or specifying lighting in workspace layouts. Part 1 specifies the requirements for lighting solutions for most indoor work places and their associated areas in terms of quantity and quality of illumination.

It aims to encourage designers to consider all light sources, including natural light, not just electric lighting and it recognizes the importance of daylight for energy saving. It gives recommendations for general lighting best practice to provide adequate and appropriate lighting, thus enabling people to perform visual tasks efficiently and accurately.

BS 12464 will be especially useful in buildings when subdividing lighting for use only when a specific area is occupied.

What’s changed since the last update?

BS 12464 has been fully revised by experts to bring it up to date with technological developments and industry best practice. Major changes include:

• The importance of daylight is taken into account
• Specification of cylindrical illuminance and detailed information on modelling
• Specification of minimum illuminance on walls and ceiling
• Uniformity of illuminance is assigned to tasks and activities
• Definition of background area and lighting specification for this area
• Definition of an illuminance grid in accordance with BS 12464-2
• New luminance limits are set for luminaires used with display screen equipment according to ISO 9214-307